Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif launched the second phase of the “Chief Minister Honhar Scholarship Program” at a ceremony held at FAST University in Islamabad on Monday.
This groundbreaking initiative, the largest of its kind in Pakistan’s history, aims to provide scholarships to 30,000 students annually, with a target of supporting 120,000 students over the next four years.
Speaking at the event, CM Maryam Nawaz highlighted that the program, which is being launched at a cost of 100 million rupees, will assist students from private universities across the province. “This initiative will allow talented students to pursue higher education without the burden of financial worries,” she said. “The Punjab government will cover 100% of educational expenses for eligible students.”
The scholarship program will benefit students from 65 universities, 12 medical and dental colleges, and 359 colleges in Punjab, spanning 68 disciplines. Eligibility is open to students under 22 years of age, residing in Punjab, with a household income of less than Rs. 300,000 per month.
The program’s selection process is designed for transparency, with applications processed through an online portal. A multi-tiered scrutiny process, led by Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, ensures fairness and integrity in awarding scholarships.
Maryam Nawaz shared that 2,473 students from the University of Punjab and 2,570 students from Rawalpindi Division were being awarded scholarships. Additionally, 1,886 students from the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore have benefited from the program. She emphasized that this initiative marks a historic milestone as 637 scholarships will be awarded to students from federal universities, a first in the country’s educational history.
In line with her vision to empower women, CM Maryam Nawaz revealed that 60% of the scholarships are specifically reserved for female students. “This is the real change the people of Punjab are witnessing,” she said, underscoring her commitment to gender equality in education.
In addition to the scholarship program, the Chief Minister announced the creation of an Education City in Lahore, aiming to invite top international universities to establish campuses. She also shared plans to establish an AI institution in Nawaz Sharif IT City Lahore, focusing on fields like Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity.
Expressing her optimism for the future, Maryam Nawaz said, “These brilliant students will lead Pakistan to prosperity through their hard work. While our opponents engage in criticism, we remain focused on the progress of our people.”
The Chief Minister also revealed plans to expand the program further, with the goal of awarding 50,000 scholarships by next year. She also promised to provide laptops and e-bikes at no cost to 100,000 deserving students, as part of her efforts to support youth development.
